There were celebrated witches in the town of Denbigh. Bella Fawr (Big Bella) was one of the last and most famous of her tribe in that town, and she was credited with both witching powers, as well as the power to break spells. She could make void the curses of other witches. Bella of Denbigh, who lived in the early part of the present century (18thC) was one of these and her renown extended over many counties.| About the year 1815 an old woman, supposed to be a witch, lived at Ffridd Ucha, Llanfrothen, and she got her living by begging. One day she called at Ty Mawr, in the same parish, requesting a charity of milk; but she was refused. The next time they churned, the milk would not turn to butter. They continued their labours for many hours, but at last they were compelled to desist in consequence of the unpleasant odour which proceeded from the churn. The milk was thrown away and the farmer, John Griffiths, divining that the milk had been witched by the woman who had been begging at their house, went to consult a conjuror who lived near Pwllheli. This man told him that he was to put a red hot crowbar into the milk the next time they churned. This was done and the milk was successfully churned. For several weeks the crowbar served as an antidote, but at last it failed and again the milk could not be churned. The unpleasant smell made it again impossible for anyone to stand near the churn.| Griffiths, as before, consulted the Pwllheli conjuror, who gave him a charm to place underneath the churn, stating, when he did so, that if it failed, he could render no further assistance. The charm did not act and a gentleman whom he next consulted advised him to go to Bell, or Bella, the Denbigh witch. Griffiths did so and to his great surprise he found that Bell could describe the position of his house and she knew the names of his fields. Her instructions were: Gather all the cattle to Gors Goch field, a meadow in front of the house and then she said that the farmer and a friend were to go to a certain holly tree and stand out of sight underneath this tree. This was to be done by night and the farmer was told that he should then see the person who had injured him. The instructions were literally carried out. When the cows came to the field they herded together in a frightened manner and commenced bellowing fearfully. In a very short time, who should enter the field but the suspected woman in evident bodily pain and Griffiths and his friend heard her uttering some words unintelligible to them. Having done so, she disappeared, and the cattle became quiet and ever after they had no difficulty in churning the milk of those cows.

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